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Sandbar Willow

Salix exigua

A thicket-forming streambank willow with narrow silvery leaves, spreading by root suckers to bind soil. Excellent for erosion control and streambank restoration across the West and Great Plains.

Family
Salicaceae
Type
shrub
Lifespan
perennial
Height
4–15 ft
Spacing
6–20 ft apart
Light
sun
Soil moisture
moist, wet
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Bloom
April, May
Bloom colors
yellow, green
Wildlife value
pollinators, songbirds, larval host
Caterpillar hosts
~455 butterfly & moth species
Landscape uses
specimen, hedge or screen, rain garden, erosion control
Native states
AR, AZ, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MT, NE, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY